It is a lipase inhibitor. It works in the stomach and small intestine by blocking the absorption of fat from food by blocking enzymes responsible for the breakdown of fat. The patient must have a BMI in excess of 30, or a BMI in excess of 28 which additional risk factors, such as Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or hypertension. They should be obese (a BMI of 30 or more) or overweight (a BMI of 27 or more with other risk factors including high cholesterol or type II diabetes). How does it work? It works in your digestive system to block about one-third of the fat in the food you eat from being digested. Orlistat attaches to the enzymes in your digestive system (lipases) and mainly blocks them from breaking down some of the fat you have eaten during your meal. The usual dose of Orlistat is one 120 mg capsule taken with each of the three main meals per day. It can be taken immediately before, during a meal or up to one hour after a meal. The capsule should be swallowed with water. Orlistat should be taken with a well-balanced, calorie-controlled diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables and contains an average of 30 % of the calories from fat. Your daily intake of fat, carbohydrate and protein should be distributed over three meals. This means you will usually take one capsule at breakfast time, one capsule at lunchtime and one capsule at dinner time. To gain the optimal benefit, avoid the intake of food containing fat between meals, such as biscuits, chocolate, and savory snacks. Do not take it: - if you are allergic to orlistat or any of the other ingredients of this medicine - if you have chronic malabsorption syndrome - if you have cholestasis (liver disorder) - if you are breast-feeding

- Oily discharge,
- oily or fatty stool,
- headache,
- abdominal pain,
- discomfort,
- urgent or increased need to open the bowels,
- flatulence (wind) with or without discharge,
- liquid stools,
- low blood sugar levels (experienced by some people with type 2 diabetes),
- upper respiratory infections,
- flu (influenza)